"What are we doing here, Duke Motter?" A table filled with various politicians, landowners, and nobles was convened, specifically for a conference.
"And why else would I gather you?" Motter said, looking ahead at the many curious faces. "Come now, Baron Foster, we all know why we are here... Adam is dead, so why are we being ruled by a simple woman like Adria?" he said, glancing at the others. "We need to act, take control of the Kingdom. That woman doesn't know how to be an Empress.
She didn't even bother to formally announce her assumption of power; she's just managing without any kind of approval from us, the Nobles."
They looked at each other, and one of them raised his hand, wanting to ask a question. "Gentlemen, I'm sure you're not fools. But have you forgotten about the Demon King at her side?" he asked, clearly fearful and reluctant to get involved.
"What could a Demon King do? Once she's dead, he would have no interest in a corpse," Motter replied, and everyone exchanged looks again; what he was suggesting seemed surreal.
"Even so... Dante Scarlet, a Vampire who Ascended to Demon King... I can't agree with such a foolish plan as assassinating an Empress inside the Royal Palace," an older man said. "Duke Joe, it's just an idea; we can try other things, of course. I'm open to hearing your suggestions," Motter said, though the others seemed hesitant to join them.
"It would be better to start a civil war, to use the city against her and remove her by the will of the people. Facing a Demon King head-on won't be pleasant. I saw him fight Ethan Smith, and he decimated him in every way after the explosion," a young man, perhaps in his 30s, said. "Northern Duke..." Motter murmured, as he had just entered.
"I didn't expect you to ignore our summons," Motter admitted, but the man merely smiled. "I'm here only to say that I'm abandoning this idiotic endeavor you call a Council. I don't want to be sent to Hell by one of the Demon Kings," he said and turned away. "Wait, Mark, why so suddenly? What do you know?" Motter questioned, and Mark turned back.
"Do you really want to fight a power struggle with the most dangerous man in the world? I mean, of course, if you think you'll be fighting him alone, you're quite foolish, considering that in the Palace, we have Valentina Scarlet, Morgana Arcane, and Sara Vortex," Mark said with a smile.
"Even though I find it very difficult for you to succeed through a civil war, it's your only method; after all, their strength is comparable to that of a continent. A Demon King, a God Slayer, a Supreme Mage... I'm not even considering their cultivation, but I'm not crazy enough to think a direct fight is possible," Mark said and continued to leave. "Good luck," he said and closed the door.
"Mark has a valid point. We are considering only Dante Scarlet and not all the others who follow him..." intervened Baron Foster, breaking the tense silence after the Northern Duke's departure. "We cannot ignore the presence of Dante Scarlet and the other powerful allies of Empress Aldria.
If we truly want to challenge and disrupt the status quo, we need genuinely effective strategies and to avoid direct confrontation with them."
Motter, visibly irritated by Mark's desertion, took a deep breath and slowly nodded. "I understand your concerns, Baron Foster. However, leaving Aldria in power is not an option. We need a plan that minimizes risks and maximizes our chances of success."
"And what would that strategy be?" asked a noble sitting at the back of the table, his voice laden with skepticism. "Any action against the Empress will be seen as treason, and we cannot forget that many citizens support her, especially after Adam's death."
"We need to win the people's support before anything else," said Motter, his expression becoming more resolute. "If we can sow seeds of doubt about Adria's ability to govern, we can turn the tide in our favor. And for that, we need a well-orchestrated disinformation campaign, combined with the mobilization of our forces in the shadows.
Additionally, we must highlight Ethan's betrayal by a Demon; isn't it the same here? Aldria is allied with a Demon King, which is more than enough to change public opinion."
A murmur of approval swept through the room. "So, it's a war of words and influence," pondered Duke Joe, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "But we need influential allies both within and outside the Kingdom. Someone who can legitimize our cause."
"Then it's decided," declared Motter, slamming his hand on the table. "We start working immediately. Baron Foster, organize the contacts. Duke Joe, begin preparing the disinformation campaign. And everyone else, remain discreet and vigilant. We cannot fail."
Everyone nodded and began to rise, turning to leave, but something... a sound from the ceiling...
*BONK*
Everyone looked up without paying much attention and saw only... a liquid dripping from the dark ceiling.
"W-what is that?" one of them asked, seeing that on the ceiling... a dark red liquid was descending as if... "Hey, where's Joe?" one of them questioned, but soon
*BOOOM*
Joe's body fell from where the liquid was dripping, completely disfigured, missing both arms and both legs.
"AHHHHHH!" One of them screamed and quickly backed away... "Good God..."
Motter was frozen, his eyes wide as he watched Joe's mutilated body fall into the middle of the room. The metallic smell of blood filled the air, and the nobles, who had been so confident and determined before, were now pale with fear.
"How did this happen?" Motter murmured, his voice trembling slightly. He tried to regain his composure, but the panic was palpable.
Baron Foster cautiously approached the body, trying to understand what was happening. "This is a message," he said, noticing a paper stuck to the body. He looked directly at Motter. "Read it," Motter said, and Foster picked up the paper.
"Loved the plans..." Foster read aloud, and suddenly, a sound filled the air, clear and unmistakable...
*Clap* *Clap* *Clap*
A man sat at the far end of the table, clapping his hands. He was seated where Joe had been, with his legs propped up on the table, looking completely relaxed, and his red eyes glowing. Everyone just... trembled in fear.
The man, relaxed in the chair, his glowing red eyes shining in the dim light, smiled a truly terrifying smile. "You really are brave, or perhaps just fools," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as if they were merely bad jokes.
Motter felt a chill run down his spine. "Who are you?" he managed to ask, despite his dry throat.
The stranger laughed, a low and menacing sound. "Oh, where's your courage now, little Motter? You were just talking about me a moment ago, how can you not recognize me?" The man revealed a bit of his face, stepping out of the shadows, and his image hit the room like a bomb, the nobles recoiling instinctively.
"Dante Scarlet..." murmured Baron Foster, pale. "The Demon King..."
"I see my name still carries some weight. Well, not enough, apparently, since you were plotting against me," said Dante, his red eyes dancing with sinister amusement. "Now, let's get straight to the point. I heard you're planning a rebellion against my dear Aldria."
"It's not like that," Motter tried to explain, but his voice failed.
Dante leaned forward, his piercing gaze cutting into Motter. "Don't lie to me. I heard everything. You want to overthrow Aldria because you think she's unworthy. But let me make one thing clear: I have no problem erasing all of you and your families from the face of the Empire and replacing you all. I do not tolerate insubordination, and you are nothing but subordinates."
"Will you kill us?" asked a noble at the back, almost whispering.
"That depends on you," Dante replied, rising slowly. "This is your only chance to abandon these foolish plans. If you continue, there will be no mercy, only extermination."
"But... Joe..." Motter tried to argue, pointing to the disfigured body.
"Joe was an example," Dante said coldly. "And if you don't give up, everyone here will meet the same fate, or worse. After all... I still have access to Hell, the real Hell." Dante's words left them shocked. They had expected something like this, but like the fools they were, they had thought diplomacy might work, something that... doesn't matter to Dante.
Dante is a force that lives as he pleases. Killing a Duke? Who cares about that? He would kill the entire Empire if they posed a threat to his loved ones, and Aldria is included in that. "My Empress is absolute. If any of you want to disagree, come to me.
I am showing mercy out of pity for the pathetic creatures you are," he said. The room was deathly silent, everyone feeling the weight of Dante's words. He looked around, observing the fear in the nobles' eyes.
"So, what will your choice be?" Dante asked, his voice soft but lethal. "Abandon your plans and live, or continue and face my wrath?"
Motter knew this was the hardest decision of his life. He looked at the others, who were clearly terrified. "We... we need time to think," he said finally, trying to buy some time.
Dante smiled, a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Well, I warned you." Dante said, his eyes turning blood-red, and without them even realizing...
"AHHHHHHH!" A chain of screams erupted, with everyone present... losing an arm...
The room started to fill with blood, and Dante just smiled. "I'll come back for the other one if you continue with these foolish thoughts." Dante said and vanished.
"Hm?" He felt something as he appeared outside the meeting place and sensed Aaralyn calling him. "What is it, dear?" He asked, and Aaralyn appeared; she had been traveling for a long time behind him and finally found him. "You could have used Vampire [Charm] on them, you know?" She questioned, and Dante blinked twice... "Oops, that's true."
"Ah... master, you should pay more attention..." She murmured, and Dante just smiled. "I don't like manipulating much; causing trauma is more effective. Besides, I marked him. If he does anything... well, I'll know."
"I understand... but remember to think before you act..." Aaralyn said, "Alright, dear, let's move on to the next point, okay?" He said, and "KYA!!! LET ME GO!" She quickly screamed after Dante grabbed her like a princess.
"Hahaha, let's go, my cute assassin." He said and began to fly at full speed. "We have a mine to blow up!"